Amata Community

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Last updated: March 7, 2018 (2 seconds ago)

Listing created on: January 27, 2005

Mission Statement

To provide an educational model for holistic living in an urban environment.

Community Description

We are in one of Atlanta’s most vibrant areas. Four miles away is downtown; one mile away is Atlanta’s biggest alternative business district with a large natural-foods co-op. Within one-half mile are a fifty-acre city park, a sixteen-mile-long off-road bike trail, a subway station, and numerous bus stops. Two blocks away are shops and restaurants. Sidewalks, trees, and greenery are very abundant throughout the area. Our property intertwines with the Lake Claire Community Land Trust. And next to that is the Lake Claire Cohousing Community.

Amata and the Land Trust are on a gorgeous, hilly, 2.5-acre plot with organic gardens, fruit orchards, solar well, farm animals, ponds, sauna, fire circle, playgrounds, picnic tables, and a playfield. We have one large permanent house and several cottages.

People who visit here remark how it has a country in the city feeling. They are amazed at how much greenspace and gardens we have for an urban location.

We have 4 core decision makers/owners and 24 residents who rent rooms and have input on some issues. We are moving toward allowing the residents to run the houses and handle the finances and hope to create a cooperative at some point, though most people seem to prefer to rent and have the freedom from handling daily management and finances.

Amata’s residents are varied in age, sex, religion, diet, race, career, education, etc. We have few rules except toc lean up after yourself and respect each other and the property/land/neighborhood. Absolutely no hard drugs, no tobacco smoking indoors, or regular drunken behavior. No animals allowed in building commons. Our maintenance
man cleans all common areas and does the yardwork, he keeps the place clean and tidy, and repairs are done quickly.

For fun there are various neighborhood festivals that as well as drum circles and other musical events. There are a few festivals a year on the neighboring Lake Claire Land Trust. Nearby are plenty of coffee shops, art galleries, playhouses, music venues and other places to relax, plus restaurants and a good small grocery store.

Rents at Amata are reasonable for the neighborhood. As of 2015, these average about $650 for a medium bedroom with nice views of nature, utilities and wifi included, plus large tv with good cable. We provide common food basics plus fresh fruit and fair trade coffee. Kitchen and bathrooms are shared, no particular group meals
but they happen spontaneously depending on who wants to cook, we don’t have rules about that.

As of October 2015 we may have homes for sale. Please email or call us if you are interested in buying a home.

If this sound interesting to you, email to arrange a visit; rooms open up about every 1.5-2 months on average. So come on by and visit, see if you like what we offer and it seems like a good fit.

Please try emailing us before calling or texting. Click “send message” button on the right. If you need to contact us on short notice feel free to call or text.

Housing

Current Residence Types: Single-family homes, Room(s) in a house or building, Lots to build on

Current Number of Residences: 4

Planned number of residences: 0

Planned Residence Types: Single-family homes, Room(s) in a house or building, Tiny house, Yurt, tee-pee, dome, treehouse, or tent, Lots to build on

Housing Provided: Purchase, Rental

Land owned by: Individual community member(s)

Membership

Adult Members: 28

Child Members: 2

Non-member Residents: 0

Percent Women: 50%

Percent Men: 50%

Percent Transgender: 1-10%

Visitors accepted:Yes

Visitor Process:

email us first. You may call or text if you need to visit on short notice, but email is strongly preferred. To email us, click the “send message” button on the right. You may also visit the Lake Claire Land Trust anytime without permission, to get a feel for the place. (LCCLT is open to the public during the day. See their website or Google maps).

Open to new Members:Yes

Membership Process:

Email and arrange visit. We also advertise rooms for rent on Craigslist.

Additional Comments:

most of us are spiritual but non religious

Government

Decision Making: By a board, council, group of elders, or leadership group